Bioengineering

An award-winning Bioengineering PhD student’s science writing has driven growing public and media engagement with brain ageing research, creating new opportunities to communicate emerging technologies beyond the lab.

Vanessa Drevenakova, a PhD researcher in the Morse Lab in the Department of Bioengineering, has seen her research reach new audiences following the publication of an award-winning science communication piece in The Observer. The article, which won the MRC Max Perutz Award for Writing, explores how emerging technologies could help support brain health as we age.

The piece introduces readers to microglia – small but vital immune cells in the brain – and explains their role in maintaining brain function over time.

Read Bioengineering PhD student wins MRC Max Perutz Award for science communication in full

This edition of News You Can Use brings together practical updates, funding calls, training opportunities and useful notices shared by colleagues across Bioengineering and Imperial.

Explore what is available, take advantage of opportunities that support your work or studies, and stay informed about important developments for our community.

Stay updated: Get alerts for new theses in Spiral

Did you know that most Imperial PhD theses are freely available online?

The majority are open access in Spiral, Imperial’s digital repository, while a small number are restricted to Imperial users only.

Want to be notified when new Imperial PhD theses are added? Or celebrate a student’s achievement when they complete their doctorate?

Read News You Can Use: Spring 2026 in full

There is a wide range of events taking place across Bioengineering and Imperial this term, including flagship lectures, skills workshops, networking sessions and community celebrations.

Whether you are looking to broaden your research perspective, build collaborations, develop new skills or connect with colleagues, these opportunities are designed to enrich your experience and help you make the most of our community!

Culture Evening 2026: Connecting communities through culture 📅19 February 2026

Join us on Thursday, 19 February, at Imperial’s inaugural Culture Evening as students compete for a £250 cash prize. Part of Imperial Connect, the evening brings together the Imperial community for a showcase of student performances celebrating cultural diversity through dance, music, and storytelling.

Read Events: Spring 2026 in full

2026 has gotten off to an exceptional start in the Department of Bioengineering, with staff and students achieving recognition across research, education, innovation, and public engagement.

This Spring 2026 Staff and Student Successes round-up brings together a selection of highlights from the past term, including funding awards, fellowships, competition results, publications, and external recognition.

We encourage you to read through the full list and join us in congratulating colleagues and students on their achievements. Taking a moment to recognise and share in these successes helps celebrate the collective strength and impact of our department.

Enterprise Fellowship awarded for translational research

Congratulations to Aditi Sitolay, Bioengineering MDDE MRes alumnus, who has been awarded a prestigious Enterprise Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Read Staff and Student Successes: Spring 2026 in full

This autumn, the Department of Bioengineering is launching the first-ever Caro Alumni Lecture alongside our Bioengineering Industry Showcase.

These two events shine a spotlight on the translational impact of our research and the innovative spin-outs that have grown from our department. The industry showcase is a unique opportunity to connect with industry partners, discover entrepreneurial success stories, and highlight the breadth of collaborations happening within Bioengineering.

To make the most of the showcase event, we need your help. If you have industry contacts who should be part of the showcase, or if you yourself have a spin-out company that you would like to celebrate and exhibit, please complete our Industry Connections & Showcase Interest Form for academic staff or the form for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and alumni so we can extend invitations to them.

Read The Caro Alumni Lecture & Bioengineering Industry Showcase in full

Imperial is bustling with activity this Autumn Term, and there are lots of events across campus to get involved in.

This Events news section brings together opportunities you might enjoy, whether for learning, networking, or just trying something new.

If you’re looking for what’s happening closer to home, check out our Bioengineering Events listings page.

Black History Month: Fireside Chat with Baroness Amos

Date: Monday 13th October 2025 | 13:00–14:00

Join the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for a special online Fireside Chat with Baroness Valerie Amos, a distinguished public servant, diplomat, and academic leader whose career has spanned British public life, global diplomacy, and higher education.

Read Events: Autumn 2025 in full

Imperial after:hours – adult education classes open to all!

Don’t miss out! 🌟 Early Bird Discounts on Imperial evening classes end this week.

Join us for inspiring courses in art, languages, humanities, and more — no previous experience needed.

Book now to secure your place at a reduced rate.

Classes are also open to friends and family at the reduced rate, and we have in-person and online courses available

www.imperial.ac.uk/afterhours

Imperial for Academic English: Academic Communication Primer Sessions

New to Imperial? Start strong with our primer sessions

Whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate, our academic communication primer sessions are designed to help you hit the ground running.

Read News You Can Use: Autumn 2025 in full

Our Bioengineering community has had plenty of reasons to celebrate this season.

Feel Good News is all about the moments that make our Bioengineering community special. Unlike Staff and Student Successes, here we celebrate personal wins, fun achievements, and the everyday highlights that bring us together.

Take a moment to congratulate your colleagues and peers, and if you have good news to share, make sure to send it in for the next newsletter.

Celebrating Recovery and Supporting Cancer Research

by Dr Laki Pantazis

My wife Nadine was diagnosed with breast cancer last September. Since then, she has bravely undergone chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery – and we are deeply grateful to share that she is now cancer-free.

Read Feel Good News: Autumn 2025 in full

The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Imperial’s Microbial Food Hub have recently welcomed a wave of international visitors, reflecting growing worldwide interest in sustainable food research.

Ministers from the UK, Sweden and Denmark, as well as delegations from Finland, Canada, Korea and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, toured the facilities to learn more about the cutting-edge work taking place.

Their visits underline the global significance of Imperial’s research in shaping the future of food systems.

🗞️Read more about these visits:

Read Spotlight on Global Engagement: High-Profile Visits to the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Microbial Food Hub in full